High paying jobs in New Mexico that need no degree

These occupations pay well in New Mexico and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in New Mexico run 7.8% below the national average (2024), so a New Mexico salary is worth about 1.08× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in New Mexico.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in New Mexico

OccupationMedian, New Mexico · Employed

1Air Traffic Controllers$148,550
Associate's degree
$77,400 – $187,790350
2Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$119,320
Associate's degree
$98,350 – $123,240670
3Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$101,750
Associate's degree
$65,170 – $123,2601,390
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$101,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,610 – $155,370660
5Electrical and Electronics Drafters$101,330
Associate's degree
$55,000 – $124,470390
6Boilermakers$101,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,160 – $119,550300
7Commercial Pilots$97,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,680 – $219,010370
8Gas Plant Operators$97,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,440 – $108,670300
9Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,560
Associate's degree
$56,400 – $122,690320
10Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$96,070
Associate's degree
$59,940 – $124,1101,000
11Dental Hygienists$95,940
Associate's degree
$82,180 – $105,4401,420
12First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$92,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,990 – $130,5101,320
13Locomotive Engineers$88,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,960 – $92,880440
14Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$87,210
Associate's degree
$65,250 – $108,030410
15Detectives and Criminal Investigators$86,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $111,9702,020
16Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$84,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,690 – $99,020860
17Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$82,780
No formal educational credential
$48,840 – $101,860580
18Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$80,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,610 – $101,170420
19Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,940
Associate's degree
$59,560 – $104,1201,150
20Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$79,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,510 – $135,200790
21Wellhead Pumpers$78,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $98,8101,060
22Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$77,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,890 – $77,890400
23First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,970 – $127,7503,780
24Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,020
Associate's degree
$36,820 – $94,000300
25Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$76,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,640 – $105,5901,020
26Real Estate Sales Agents$76,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,340 – $151,560550
27First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$75,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,390 – $137,060880
28First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,370 – $131,2506,790
29Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$74,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,380 – $104,790420
30Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$73,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $92,7102,800
31Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$69,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $85,7404,580
32Respiratory Therapists$68,870
Associate's degree
$61,990 – $91,220840
33Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,620 – $101,5201,280
34Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$67,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,630 – $104,060320
35Lodging Managers$67,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,740 – $93,590370
36Construction and Building Inspectors$65,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,350 – $94,870800
37Food Service Managers$65,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,730 – $108,3001,410
38Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$64,990
No formal educational credential
$47,400 – $101,9002,600
39Protective Service Workers, All Other$64,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,480 – $126,050650
40First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$64,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $126,8702,520
41Computer Network Support Specialists$64,550
Associate's degree
$46,690 – $124,4001,300
42Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,760 – $89,3201,470
43Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,550 – $85,6901,100
44First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$63,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,510 – $87,610530
45First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,540 – $92,4108,330
46Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,440
Associate's degree
$47,380 – $86,240710
47Crane and Tower Operators$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,180 – $81,830290
48First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$62,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,780 – $94,770580
49Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$62,330
Associate's degree
$42,890 – $125,840500
50Physical Therapist Assistants$62,280
Associate's degree
$30,470 – $85,040700

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianNew Mexico	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$148,550	$77,400 – $187,790	350
2	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$119,320	$98,350 – $123,240	670
3	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$101,750	$65,170 – $123,260	1,390
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,420	$65,610 – $155,370	660
5	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$101,330	$55,000 – $124,470	390
6	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,200	$62,160 – $119,550	300
7	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$97,920	$34,680 – $219,010	370
8	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,660	$72,440 – $108,670	300
9	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,560	$56,400 – $122,690	320
10	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$96,070	$59,940 – $124,110	1,000
11	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,940	$82,180 – $105,440	1,420
12	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,200	$59,990 – $130,510	1,320
13	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,330	$83,960 – $92,880	440
14	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$87,210	$65,250 – $108,030	410
15	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,840	$47,480 – $111,970	2,020
16	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,440	$49,690 – $99,020	860
17	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$82,780	$48,840 – $101,860	580
18	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,590	$57,610 – $101,170	420
19	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,940	$59,560 – $104,120	1,150
20	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,490	$47,510 – $135,200	790
21	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,010	$48,240 – $98,810	1,060
22	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,890	$64,890 – $77,890	400
23	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,550	$44,970 – $127,750	3,780
24	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,020	$36,820 – $94,000	300
25	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,470	$46,640 – $105,590	1,020
26	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,170	$38,340 – $151,560	550
27	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,540	$49,390 – $137,060	880
28	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,130	$47,370 – $131,250	6,790
29	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,340	$48,380 – $104,790	420
30	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,890	$52,000 – $92,710	2,800
31	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,180	$48,400 – $85,740	4,580
32	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$68,870	$61,990 – $91,220	840
33	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,930	$40,620 – $101,520	1,280
34	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,520	$45,630 – $104,060	320
35	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,320	$43,740 – $93,590	370
36	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,420	$48,350 – $94,870	800
37	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,210	$48,730 – $108,300	1,410
38	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$64,990	$47,400 – $101,900	2,600
39	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,940	$34,480 – $126,050	650
40	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,640	$41,600 – $126,870	2,520
41	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$64,550	$46,690 – $124,400	1,300
42	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,630	$44,760 – $89,320	1,470
43	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,600	$43,550 – $85,690	1,100
44	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,380	$56,510 – $87,610	530
45	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,640	$40,540 – $92,410	8,330
46	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,440	$47,380 – $86,240	710
47	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$45,180 – $81,830	290
48	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,330	$40,780 – $94,770	580
49	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$62,330	$42,890 – $125,840	500
50	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,280	$30,470 – $85,040	700

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in New Mexico. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for New Mexico

Metro areas in New Mexico

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in New Mexico

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in New Mexico to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in New Mexico that need no degree

More for New Mexico

Metro areas in New Mexico

By field in New Mexico

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree